Skin cleaning device



July 1,5, 1941 G. B. SHIRLEY Erm. 2,249,500

sNIN CLEANING pEvIc-E Filed Feb. 12, 1940V Patented July l5, 1941 u1-MTE D stares Persa fr LAortega I 2,249,500 sK-IN CLEANING DEVICE Guy 1B. Shirley, rSsn Antoio, Tex, and George T. StrickelLQklahoma City, Okla., assignorsvto La-VairlCorp., lSan Antonio, Tex.

Application February 12, 1&40, VSerial No. 318,656

8V Claims.

The present invention relates to a skinrcleaning `device and more particularly to-in1proved means for efciently removing cleansing cream, blackheads, pore dirt and other Waste matter from the skin and depositing the Vsaine Within the device.

`One of the important features of the invention consists inprovidinga skin cleaning device with suction means for removing dirt and other foreign matter from Ythe skin, andassociating with the suctionmeans, means for supplying Warm orfhot v.air to the surfacebeing treated during the operation of the device.

'Another object is toV provide the device -With a cleaning .cuphaving its outer Yedge beveled or so shaped as to ,constitute scraping, squeezing or-pressingmeansarranged to Contact with the skin .and assist-the `suction means eliminating dirt and excess waste matter aswell asthecleansing creamifrom they skin.

,"Ajfurther object consists in associatingwith the fsuctioncleaning device a revoluble ddistributing member which is mounted Wthinthe cleaning-cup andspaced from the outer scrapinggedge or V.surface thereof sc as fto-be at all Itimes out of contact IWith the skin, nand .which-duringthe Operation of the device, generates outwardly directed or centrfugalair currents .which act t direct and .deposit the lskin dirt,-waste matter and cleansing cream removed from thesurface beine treated :by ,the suction means, against the inner lWall ofgthellp so las `to adhere thereto.

Another 4object: cQ,rnprehentls .the provision 0f means-1in :the .cleaning Y@up for preventing dirt andleansingream removedfram the skin by the suction means-:and thescraping means,.from being conducted through the cup-and into the casing in which the motor and suctionfan are housed.

.Other` objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent vfrom the following ldescription when taken. in conjunction-With the accompanying claims and drawing.

Referring to the-drawing4 in-Which :is `shown a preferred embodiment-of the invention:

Figure 1 is a verticalsectional vieWof-,the skin cleaning device -embQdyirig our invention;

v*Figure ;2 isa sectionalview taken substantially on-'the line 2&2 ofEigure 1.

: Figure :3 isV a detailed 4 divisas-semibled gview .of the distrbutnemember eand-theitubular end p0rtion of the motorshat.

Referring tothe drawing in which like nuas (ci. 12s-24.1)

merals indicate like parts Ain the several views, l0 designates a light and portable casing-Which may be ofv any suitable size and shape, and as shown, ccmprisesa metallic cylindrical band l l closed at its inner and outer ends by fthe plugs or closure members lf2 and I3 respectively. These members have inwardly opposed reduced annularfflanges iM to vWhich are connected the adjacent ends of the` band Il as at l5, in anyv suite able vlrnanner, such l.asti-by tight vfrictional joints or by AWeld'rlealluetrls An electric motor 1.6 of any Well-known and standard type is A'mounted Within the casing I0 andtmaygfirmlybe maintained in position by four circtunterentially spaced rubber strips or membersI I -1 secured to the motor in any suitable mannersuchlas by the screws I8.y The motor shaft lisprovided Withan-outwardly extending tubularportion-Zil Which-projects through an opening 2| inthe closure memberl. 'ihe wall of 'the opening i2! ispreferably -threadedas at-ZZ so as to receive the complementary-threaded reduced portien 23 ofvpalcleaning cup 24 into which the tubularportion it!) of the shaft extends. -The innerend of-the 'tubular portion 120 adjacent the motor mayk be `provided vwith a collar `25for supnortiuethe same.

sleeve-,26 is secured-to the tubular portionV 20 of-l the shaft bypin v2'l so asto be rotatable there- Withand lhasspatced outwardly extending radial arms orribs 28 Whichconstitutel a fanfor creatingga suction Within the casing lil during the operation of the motor.` The vacuum chamber extends from the end of the cup to that portion ofthe suctionfan 2,8 Where the fan ceases to exert apartial vacuum. A distributing member or `disc 29 is providedwith a medially dis--y posed tapered `threaded socket 30 to which is connected the complementary tapered-threaded portion 33| of the tubular shaft 2li (Figure 3). The

distributing member V29 maybe made of Vany t suitable.plasticvortrubber composition and has itsinner'faceiSZ provided -With spaced circumferentiallyV disposed grooves or slots 33.` The outerfacegBd` ofthe distributing member maybe ofany jshapeand is shown as convexed. The distributing member29 is secured to the tubular portion 120 of the shaft so that it together with the suction fan `28 rotate ina counterclockwise direction When the motor is in operation. -Currentsupplied to the motorlthrough the lead-in.Wires- Ymaybe controlledby a p ush slidefswitch 36. a

.The cup 24 is preferably bell-shaped and may be made of4 hard rubber composition or any Other suitable non-yielding plastic material. The outer end of the cup is beveled as at 31 to provide an annular scraping edge 38 arranged to contact and to be moved over the surface of the skin to be treated during the operation of the device so as to squeeze or press the skin and remove blackheads and pore dirt therefrom.

The tubular portion 2U of the motor shaft is provided with one or more radial openings 39 located to the rear of the suction fan 28 for conducting warm or hot air generated by the motor IB, through the tubular member 29 and a restricted central opening 49 formed in the distributing member 29, so as to deliver this warm air onto the skin when the machine is in operation. 'Ihe holes 39 are located to the rear of the fan 28 and may if desired, be formed in a portion of the shaft 29 which extends into the motor housing and to the rear of the collar 25 so as to increase the temperature of the hot air delivered to the parts to be treated. Thus it will be seen that by reason of the location of the openings 39 and the discharge of the warm or heated air through the tubular shaft portion 29 and the opening 49, the heat generated by the motor instead of being dissipated is utilized for a protable purpose. If it is not desired to conduct hotrair to the face or surface being treated, then a distributing member 29 having the opening 49 closed may be used. The cleaning cup 24 has an oset shoulder 4l which communicates the outer end of the cup with a reduced passage 42. The passage 42 is slightly larger than the external diameter of the distributing member 29 so thatthe cup may be readily connected or removed from the casing I0 without disturbing the member 29 and its associated parts. The distributing member 29 may be adjustably positioned relative to the outer edge 38 and the skin but never Ycontacts with the skin, and is mainedge 38 of the cup 24'is moved intoV contact with the skin or face. The suction created by the fan 28 causes the skin to befslightly drawn into the cup V24 and the edge 38 then acts to squeeze or press blackheads and pore dirt out of the skin and the skin pores as it is moved over the surface being treated. Thus the scraper materially assists the suction means 28 to remove dirt and thecleansing cream from theA parts treated. As theY distributing Y member 29 is simultaneously rotated with the fan 28, the spaced notches or 'slots 33 set up outward or radial air currents which direct the material removed from the skin as it passes through the cup between the outer edge thereof and the vshoulder 4l, to be deposited and distributed onto the inner wall 43 of the cup. During this operation the offset shoulder 4| in the cup acts to restrain or prevent dirt, waste material, or cleansing cream from being conducted into the restricted opening 42 and the interior of the casing, thus providing means' for precluding the dirt and other foreign matter from contacting the ian 28 or parts of the motor. At the same time hot or warm air generated by the motor is conducted through the radial openings 39 into the tubular portion of the shaft 29 and discharges through the opening 40 into contact with the surface of the skin being treated. The warm or hot air drawn into the cup 24 during the operation of the machine acts te somewhat decrease the suction or vacuum, and this decrease can and is taken care of by in creasing the suction fan area. In other words; when the machine is in operation the vacuum. or suction pull on the skin will be so regulated by the suction fan and the holes for conveying: the heated air from the motor to the surface: being treated, as to insure each operator or user: being provided with the proper amount of suction pressure and warm air as is necessary for' the efficient operation of the device. If it is'. not desired to apply warm air to the surface ofi the skin during the cleaning operation then the opening 4i) in the distributing member 29'may be closed. The skin cleaning device is light and portable so as to be conveniently handled by the operator or user and applied to the surface of the skin being treated. f

Thus it will be seen that simple, eiiicient andE economical vmeans are provided for removing cleansing cream and skin dirt from the surface: being treated, in which the outer edge 38 of the cup constitutes a scraper or squeezing surface when the cup is applied, and the suction created by the fan 28 draws the skininto the cup to effect a scraping, Vsqueezing or pressing of the skin and skin pores, for the purpose of eliminating dirt, excess waste matter as well as the cleansing cream that has been applied to theskin or face. This foreign matter as it is removed impinges on the inner wall 43 of the cup due to the air currents generated by the rotation of the distributing member 29. When the cleaning operation is completed, and the motor turned olf, the cup 24 may be readily removed from the casing so as to be cleanedandv then reapplied for-further use. Manifestly the device may be used to clean the face or portions of the skin when eitherra cleansing cream is first applied or without theapplication of the cream. Each of the end closure members I2 and I3 may be of such shape and size relative to the band or wall Il as to constitute means arranged to be con; veniently gripped by the user for operating the device.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown and described is merely illustrative cf va preferred embodiment and that such changes may be made as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. f

We claim:

l. A skin cleaning device of the class described including a casing having an open end, a cupconnected to theopen end of the casing, said cup having an outer edgeaarranged toengage the skin, an electric motor mounted in said casing, a drive shaft extending from one end ofthe motor, said shaft having a tubular portion projecting a limited distance intosaid cup, a suction fan mounted on said'tubular portion adjacent the motor, `a distributing member mounted'on the tubular portion of saidshaft so as to be rotatable therewith and positioned within Ythe cup, said distributing member being spaced at all times from the outer edge of the cup so as not to engage the skin, means for controlling the operation of said motor, the parts being constructed and arranged so that in operation when the cup ,-is brought into contact with the vsurface to be cleaned. thefan Creates@ -Satien which asis' t0 remove the dirt fromthe-skin,;and,smeansonthe distributing memberupon the rotation .thereof for producing air currentsfvvhich-impinge the dirt asit is removed from the vslr-ini againstthein- VFner. `Wall of Y the (iup.

y 2. A skin-cleani-ng-device ofthe class-described including-acasingV having an;open end, acuplconnected to the openrend of the easing,,sa id v,clip having an outer bevelededge varranged togfengage -the skin, ,an electric-motor mounted in said casing, a driveshaft extendingfrom one-,end of-the motor, said shaft havingla tubular .portion` pro- `jecting Ia limited distance into, saidcup, yeli-suction fan mounted on said tubular portion adjacent Vthe zmotor, a 4distributing memberr mounted Aon the Vtubular portionofysaid `shaftso-as tobe r0- tatabletherewith andv positioned within thecup, said `distributing `memberbeing spaced at all times from the outer edgeof the cup-so aspetto engage the skin, means for Ycontrolling the O peration of said motor, the parts being constructed and arranged sothat in operation when the cup isbrought into Contact with the surface to be cleaned, the fan creates a suction which acts to remove the dirt from the skin, the edge of the cup constituting a scraper means for assisting in the removal of blackheads and pore dirt from the skin, and means on the distributing member upon the rotation thereof for producing air currents which impinge the dirt as it is removed from the skin against the inner Wall of the cup.

3. A skin cleaning device of the class described including a casing having an open end, a cup connected to the open end of the casing, said cup having an outer beveled edge arranged to engage the skin, an electric motor mounted in said casing, a drive shaft extending from one end of the motor, said shaft having a tubular portion projecting a limited distance into said cup, a suction fan mounted on said tubular portion adjacent the motor, a distributing member mounted on the tubular portion of said shaft so as to be rotatable therewith and positioned Within the cup, said distributing member being spaced at all times from the outer edge of the cup so as not to enga-ge the skin, means for controlling the operation of said motor, the parts being constructed and arranged so that in operation when the cup is brought into contact with the surface t be cleaned, the fan creates a suction which acts to remove the dirt from the skin, the edge of the cup constitutinga scraper for assisting in the removal of blackheads and pore dirt from the skin, means on the distributing member upon the rotation thereof for producing air currents which impinge the dirt as it is removed from the skin against the inner Wall of the cap, and means for conducting hot air generated by the motor through the tubular portion of the shaft and into contact with the skin during the operation of the device.

4. A skin cleaning device of the class described including a casing having an open end, a cup connected to the open end of the casing, said cup having an outer beveled edge arranged to engage the skin, an electric motor mounted in said casing, a drive shaft extending from one end of the motor, said shaft having a tubular portion projecting a limited distance into said cup, a, suction fan mounted on said tubular portion adjacent the motor, a distributing member mounted on the tubular portion of said shaft so as to be rotatable therewith and position Within the cup,

said .distributing member keine :spaced fataall rtirnesrpm the uteredeaof ,incenso t0 eneaeeihe means for centralina-the @per- `eilen .of :said motor. 'the parts beine ,censtmcted `and arranged enthlt inoperatien when Cleanstrifugal air currents Which Yimpinge thegcream `vand dirt removed jfrom the s kin againstgthe in- .11er-Wall of the cap. and means .forrreventine the cream and dirt-from passing through thacup vice.

,5. ,AV skin cleaning deviceof the, class described vincluding a casing having-an open-end, a cup connected to the vopen end ofthe ;casing,.,said cup having an outer beveled,edgearrangemto engage the skin. an kelectric motonmountedin said casing, a drive ,shaft eXtending-frompne end of the motor, said shaft having a tubular portion projecting a limited distance into said cup, a suction fan mounted on said tubular portion adjacent the motor, a distributing member mounted on the tubular portion of said shaft Within the cup, said distributing member being spaced at all times from the outer edge of the cup so as not to engage the skin, means for controlling the operation of said motor, the parts being constructed and arranged so that in operation when cleansing cream is applied to the skin and the cup is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned, the fan creates a suction which acts to remove the cream and dirt from the skin, the edge of the cup constituting a scraper which assists in the removal of blackheads and pore dirt from the skin, means on the distributing member upon the rotation thereof for producing centrifugal air currents which impinge the cream and dirt removed from the skin against the inner Wall of thecap so as to adhere thereto, and means for `conducting warm air from the casing into contact with the skin during the operation of the device.

6. A skin cleaning device of the class described including a casing having an open end, a cup connected to the open end of the casing, said cup having an outer beveled edge arranged to engage the skin, an electric motor mounted in said'cas ing, a drive shaft extending from one end of the motor, said shaft having a tubular portion projecting a limited distance into said cup, a suction fan mounted on said tubular portion adjacent Y the motor, a distributing member mounted on the tubular portion of said shaft Within the cup and having spaced notches on its inner surface, said distributing member being spaced at all times from the outer edge of the cup so as not to engage the skin, means for controlling the operation of said motor, the parts being constructed and arranged so that in operation when cleansing cream is applied to the skin and the cup is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned, the fan creates a suction which acts to remove the cream'and dirt from the skin, theY edge of the cup constituting ak scraper Which assists in the removal of blackheads and pore dirt from the skin, and said spaced notches on the distributing member forming air passages which upon the rotation thereof produces centrifugal air currents which impinge the cream and dirt removed from the skin against the inner Wall of the cup so as to adhere thereto, said tubular shaft portion having means communicating with the casing adjacent the motor for conducting Warm air generated by the motor through the tubular portion and into contact with the skin during the operation of the device.

7. In combination with a skin cleaning device having a casing, a motor mounted in the casing, vacuum means Within the casing for removing dirt from the skin, a cup connected to one end of the casing, said cup having a beveled outer edge arranged to engage the skin to assist the vacuum means in removing blackheads and pore 'l' motor is conducted through the tubular portion of the shaft into contact with the skin during the operation of the device.

8. In combination With a skin cleaning device having a casing, a motor mounted in the casing, vacuum means Within the casing for removing the dirt from the skin, means for controlling the operation of the vacuum means, a cleaning cup connected to the casing and arranged to be moved over the surface of the skin to be treated, said motor having a revoluble drive shaft provided with a tubular portion extending into said cup, and a member mounted on the shaft and positioned within the cup for depositing the dirt removed from the skin by the suction means onto the wall of the cup, said member being spaced at all times from the outer edge of the cup so as not to engage the skin, the tubular portion of the shaft adjacent the motor having a radial opening whereby the Warm air generated by the motor is conducted through the shaft into contact with the skin during the operation of the device.

GUY B. SHIRLEY. GEORGE T. STRICKEL. 

